Former CM Arvind Kejriwal said AAP was not formed to gain power but to fulfil the vision of the national heroes.
| Photo Credit: SUSIL KUMAR VERMA

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal took potshots at each other on the occasion of Shaheed Diwas over honouring the legacy of Bhagat Singh.

During an event commemorating the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev on Sunday, Mr. Kejriwal, in his first major public appearance since the Aam Aadmi Party’s poll debacle in Delhi, hit out at the BJP government for allegedly removing the portraits of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh from government offices in Delhi after coming to power.

The Chief Minister, on the other hand, unveiled a new statue of Bhagat Singh at a park in Malviya Nagar and blamed AAP for not repairing an old statue of the freedom fighter that had broken earlier. Addressing a gathering at the event, Ms. Gupta criticised the Opposition for questioning the BJP government’s commitment to patriotism and said, “They raised a furore over Bhagat Singh’s picture when the new government took over, but when Bhagat Singh’s statue was broken, they [AAP] never spoke about repairing it. Where was their patriotism then? Today on Shaheed Diwas, we have installed a new statue because we truly honour our national heroes.”

Attacking the government, the former Chief Minister said, “Within 48 hours of assuming power in Delhi, the BJP removed portraits of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar from government offices. I want to ask them if there is anyone who has sacrificed more for the country than Bhagat Singh.”

Mr. Kejriwal said AAP’s role models Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar used to say that merely removing the British was not enough, the structure of society had to change.

“This is exactly what has happened as today’s rulers are worse than the British. When I was in jail, and was still serving as the Chief Minister, they [jail administration] did not even let me write a letter to the Lieutenant-Governor,” he said.

He also questioned the Congress for “remaining silent” when portraits of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar were “removed”.

Mr. Kejriwal criticised the BJP government for allegedly withdrawing schemes launched by the previous AAP government. “Instead of improving facilities, they are withdrawing the existing ones. By now, they should have started giving ₹2,500 to women but they have not,” he said, accusing the BJP of failing to fulfil its poll promises.

Encouraging party workers to fight on, he said that AAP was not formed to gain power but to fulfil the vision of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh.

Bike rally, floral tributes

The Delhi government, meanwhile, organised a bike rally from Connaught Place to Shaheedi Park on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg that was followed by a musical evening of patriotic songs by Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht along with Cabinet Ministers paid floral tributes to the three freedom fighters on the Legislative Assembly premises.